Jeremiah 8:22

Is there no balm in Gilead?

In Gilead,. district east of the Jordan,. tree produced the celebrated balm which was so useful in healing hurts and wounds. When the prophet weeps over the "hurt of the daughter of his people," the question arises, Is there no cure, no more healing balm in Gilead, no relief, no hope? There was. balm, and. physician to apply it.

Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?

Israel is represented under the metaphor of one dying of. hurt, or. disease for which the balm applied by. physician is. specific. The nation was morally diseased; it had sinned grievously and persistently against God and this would bring destruction upon them. There was. balm and. physician which could save them, but they had refused the physician and the balm. Unless they repented of their sins the Healer could not reach them. God, the great Physician, had always stood ready to heal them, but they had clung to their sins.